16-Jan-2011 -- Coming from 41°N 088°W I drove on country roads, which were partly covered with snow. I was astonished to see this, because all roads in Chicago area have been cleared. No having mud-and-snow tyres on my rental car I drove carefully. Fortunately there was very little traffic on the road so it was a pleasant and save drive.

During my journey I wondered which vegetation has been here before the settlers came and turned the area into a huge field. Was there prairie and grass land or was this area covered with trees? The few trees, which are mainly near creeks, can not be very old. Perhaps one of the geographers can answer my question.

One and a half hour later I was on the "N 5th Road". My GPS pointed 30 meters to the north. Due to the nearby house I did not step on the field to zero out my GPS receiver. Took the photos and two very easy to conquer points were mine.

Still some time left before sunset I decided to continue to the west. My brief look in the Internet the evening before showed that the next point would not so easy. But: let's go and give it a try.